Many different issues are involved in this sad civil war – karma, history, religion, democracy, and of course power. We have seen this relentless violence before in other parts of the Middle East, such as in neighbouring Lebanon which already is showing signs of being drawn into the conflict, and there is the possibility now that the increasingly remorseless conflict will destabilise the wider region.
It may be that more decisive action by the UN could have inhibited, at least, this descent into bloody crisis, and hopefully lessons will be learned from what was, and was not, undertaken to help a country in need. Blame and regret are pointless.
While the world can, perhaps, attempt to use wise counsel and persuasion to assist the other countries that could be involved and to inhibit their being drawn into the war, pre-empting what could develop, for Syria herself and her people foreign diplomacy may be fruitless now and UN involvement too dangerous. As she has done before, Syria will resolve her problems in her own way however violent and cruel it may be: meanwhile the world watches, waits, learns – and prays.]]>
